Little League World Series 2012 Results: California the New U.S. Favorite

With a combination of sheer domination from the mound and the batter's box, the boys from Petaluma, Calif. cruised their way to an 11-1 win in five innings against San Antonio, vaulting themselves into Saturday's 2012 Little League World Series U.S. championship game.

And if what we saw in South Williamsport Thursday night was any indication, the boys from Goodlettsville, Tenn. are going to need an all-time performance to come out on top.

Leading the charge for the Californian offensive dominance was Hance Smith, who has caught fire in recent games after starting the tournament ice-cold from the plate. The star shortstop pounded two big blasts over the Lamade Stadium wall, including a grand slam, on his way to a 3-for-3 night.

Also turning in a scintillating performance was pitcher Danny Marzo. The young fire-baller came out against San Antonio dealing, striking out 11 batters over his five-inning complete game to keep the Texas fans quiet and the Petaluma boys far ahead in the contest.

California's next game will see the Petaluma crew try to atone for a 9-6 loss at the hands of Tennessee last Sunday. That game went into the top of the sixth inning tied 5-5 before a clutch triple from Jayson Brown put the team ahead and a two-run blast from Brock Myers put the Tennessee boys up for good.

Though the Goodlettsville crew should feel great its performance so far in Williamsport and feel like favorites heading into Saturday's contest, it's pretty apparent to anyone who has watched these games that California is the better team.

Absolutely stacked with live arms, California can throw out a rotation that could probably embarrass the Yankees at this point. With Tennessee a little thinner in the rotation, any signs of struggles could mean doom for the Goodlettsville boys.

Recent history is also on California's side. Though Little League is as wide-ranging a sport as any in the U.S., the home country's representatives have come from just three states in the past eight years: California (3), Hawaii (3) and Georgia (2).

That may seem flimsy, but there's a reason for that dominance. Each of these states has built an infrastructure of youth baseball that is highly competitive and breeds infinitely talented youngsters.

But this contest will be played on the field, and whichever team comes out on top will certainly be deserving of representing the United States against Japan or Panama in the Little League World Series Championship Game on Sunday.